All posts in Gifts That Won’t Break the Bank

We are closing out our 12 Days of Shopping with the necessary thank you notes: Day 12 Etiquette of Thank you Notes. Thank YOU so much for joining us in this series. Jeanette and I really enjoyed your company! Thank you again! What gift categories would you like us to cover next year? How about for Valentine’s Day?!

I doubt anyone would ever reject a handmade gift made with love (hence going DIY shows you really care), but are you inadvertently giving gifts that are being regifted? Do your kids know how to react when receiving a gift that does not excite them? What is the etiquette of handling an unwanted gift? I don’t have the answers so I went exploring…

Exchanging at the Store: She says it’s tacky to return for money but exchanging for something more suitable is ok.

Here’s what you say to the giftor (I thought this was genius): “I took the [insert gift] back to the store because it had a [insert defect], but they didn’t have anymore *look really sad for this part *, so I got a [insert much cooler gift] instead.”

The Perils of Regifting: You can’t get caught so you have to think 6 degrees of separation when you decide to regift. Does your intended gift receiver have any connection to the originator of the gift? If there is any hint of that, then No, No, No!! You will get caught and it will be ugly.

Donating Unwanted Gift: Find a local charity and get a two for one. You get rid of it and you get a tax deduction.

Here’s what you say to the giftor (again, pure genius): “Gosh, you know me so well! I already have a [insert gift], so I went ahead and donated the one you gave me to [insert awesome charity]. I know that will make someone really happy.”

Hannukah is late this year, ending on December 24th, so holiday gifting can also roll right into New Year’s Resolutions. Why not gift someone something to help them kick off their goals for the new year? Jeanette and I thought we’d find gifts that help teach something new and help you reach your New Year’s resolution goals.

Jeanette’s New Year’s resolution goals include: personalized volunteer match, exercise trainer, photography class, public speaking like TED, cooking and knitting. I love hers! How about you? Would you give gifts for someone’s New Year’s Resolution? And how do you figure that out?

Artistic New Year’s Resolutions

I’m trying to return to watercolor painting. I used to take a lot of art classes before kids and now I’m ready to start back up. This is my first attempt in nearly a decade. It took me a month to rebuy art supplies, set up my watercolor palette and get myself to sit down and paint again.

Jeanette and I thought we’d try to remember those who are easily forgotten because … sometimes we forget about them. A small gesture goes a long way. Jeanette has Unique Client Gifts … helpful because one year, I forgot to gift my clients during the holidays so I had to do the late thing which is not very impressive.

If this list of the forgottens is too long, maybe this is a good list to DIY with your kids?! Everyone loves this granola recipe from Nigella Lawson. I’ve gifted it year round to teachers who love it!

For Day 8 of our 12 Days of Shopping, Jeanette and I thought we’d explore gifts for both sides of the brain for kids and adults. I have a selection of STEAM toys. STEAM is Science, Technology, Engineering, Art an Math. I think the math belongs with its more popular cousin, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), because creativity is the root of all problem solving!

For day 7 of our 12 Days of Shopping series, Jeanette and I are getting sneaky.

Day 7 Gifts to Steal From Loved Ones

Self-serving gifts (things to give to your husband and kids that you really want)

Disappearing gifts (gifts that you receive but everyone else takes)

Clothes are fair game in our house to steal. There’s already the general confusion as to who owns what now that the girls are close in size to me. But there is something about men’s wear that appeals to us; it’s oversized and cozy. So beware, these are gifts that are going to be swiped.

Has anyone ever complained about those holiday decorations outside your home? Really?! No one? You are missing out on an important rite of passage. Jeanette and I are going to ensure that you get those public letters to the editor complaining about your tacky religious celebration and you’ll be the talk of your company party in these memorable ugly holiday sweaters. Don’t miss out. It’s the holiday season. Time to break out the tacky!

Day 6 Oops, I Did It Again

Tackiest holiday gifts and accessories

Ugly Holiday Sweaters and Other Terrible Gifts

Let’s start with some Ugly Sweaters!

This is from The Frisky. I’m not sure you can buy it but if you are crafty, you can make it yourself. It just needs a little glue gun action!